Court!

By Akin Kuponiyi

A Prophet of Celestial Church of Christ, Prophet Oladele Olufemi Ayoola, has been arraigned before a Federal high court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a couple the sum of N70million.

The 45- year old Prophet, who has his Church in Oke-Ira, Ogba,area of Lagos State, was ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi prison after he was arraigned before the court, on a five count-amended charge of fraud, stealing, impersonation, forgery and false accusation.

In a criminal charge number FHC/L/234c/2017, filed before the court by the Nigeria Police, it was alleged that the Celestial Prophet had between 2008 and December 2016, pretended to be a spiritualist, soothsayer capable of preventing all type of spiritual and physical attacks.

The police alleged that the Prophet who operates between Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti States, was alleged to have fraudulently obtained the sum of N70 million from Abbey N Becky Enterprise and Nichole Integrated Investment Limited, which were represented by Peter Omokaro and Catherine N. Omokaro, under the pretence that he would assist them spiritually

The police alleged further that the Prophet defrauded the two firms through his account numbers: 2055838342 and 2060863319 domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

The Prophet was also alleged to have forged the two firms’ identity cards, which he used in claiming to be their staff , as well as made a false accusation against Peter Omokaro, one of the fraud victims.

The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused prophet are contrary to and punishable under section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences, 2004, and Sections 390(9), 467(2)(b), 448 and 210(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, (as amended).

The Celestial Prophet however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Anka, ordered that he be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons till August 17, when his bail application will be heard.